DRIVERS who still use their mobile phone while behind the steering wheel face a £60 fine and three points on their licence from today.

They are also being warned that in the most serious cases they face being taken to court, landed with a £1000 fine and a possible driving ban.

Police are determined to crack down on the misuse of mobiles and are launching a nationwide campaign to catch the culprits.

And anyone using a hands-free phone kit is not guaranteed to escape.

Police say a motorist could still be distracted and, as a result, the new penalties include an offence of not having proper control of a vehicle.

The previous penalty was a £30 fine, but Chief Constable John Vine, chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, welcomed the tougher penalties and urged drivers not to answer their phone if it rings.

He said: "Divert your call, not your attention.

"If drivers take their eyes off the road or are distracted, even for a split second, because of a mobile phone then the consequences could be disastrous."

Recent Department for Transport figures show that while more than 90% of people agree with the mobiles ban, around 20% of drivers admit to breaking it. Research shows those using a phone while driving are four times more likely to crash.

Serious cases will be taken to court and convicted motorists could end up paying a maximum £1000 fine.

The maximum fine for bus, lorry or van drivers will be £2500. The worst , such as those who cause an accident, could also be banned, but the sentences will be on a "case by case" basis.

The warning was made as eight "hitchhikers" paraded in George Square today pretending to be workers who had lost their driving licence after being caught using a mobile.

They were part of a publicity stunt organised by the Scottish Executive's road safety unit to alert drivers to the new penalties for using mobiles while driving.

Three weeks ago the Evening Times shamed dozens of drivers in Glasgow by publishing pictures of drivers using mobiles.